by Jeff Gluck, USA TODAY Sports

by Jeff Gluck, USA TODAY Sports

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is hoping 500 miles at Darlington Raceway on Saturday night will help him get over a big mistake earlier this week at Texas Motor Speedway.

Earnhardt steered his car into the infield grass and then crashed after trying to make a pass Monday at Texas, tearing up his car and damaging teammate Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet in the process.

The incident left Earnhardt with a last-place finish for the first time since November 2007 at Phoenix International Raceway.

"It was something I don't take very lightly," he said Friday at Darlington. "Just being able to get back in the car and test at Michigan (on Tuesday and Wednesday) was a big help for me to get past it and to get focused on the next race.

"This is going to be a tough place to come rebound, but we are going to give it our best. I'm just glad to be back at the track. Go ahead and get a race or two in the bank and put it behind us."

Earnhardt, who joined Twitter after winning the Daytona 500, said he's been reluctant to tweet much this week because the social media service is "a bit of a playground" and it wouldn't been appropriate in his mind.

"I don't want to horse around if we are not doing good," he said. "I don't want to be on there goofing off and making light of the situation, because it was a frustrating mistake."

The 11-time most popular driver did notice some of his 637,000 followers tried to lift his spirits following the wreck.

"I guess Twitter can be a help in a situation like that," he said. "I mean, my fans certainly have my back and tell you to brush it off, don't worry about it. I'm sure there are some people on there saying the opposite, but I didn't see many of those or any of those."